Effect of water extracts from Cynanchum thesioides (Freyn) K. Schum. on visceral hypersensitivity and gut microbiota profile in maternally separated rats. (10th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lingpeng, Pei; Jingzhu, Song; Wei, Liu; Enqi, Wu; Yaqin, Ling
• Is Part Of: Journal of ethnopharmacology. Volume 264(2020)
• Publication Date: 2021-01-10
• Subjects: Cynanchum thesioides -- Irritable bowel syndrome -- Maternal separation -- Visceral hypersensitivity -- Gut microbiota; Ethnopharmacology -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosie -- Périodiques; Herbes -- Périodiques; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113352
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-8741

Abstract

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic, stress-related, functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal discomfort and altered bowel habits; the manipulation of the microbiota is emerging as a promising therapeutic option for IBS. Cynanchum thesioides (CT) is an herb of traditional Mongolian medicine that has been employed in treating abdominal pain and diarrhea for hundreds of years. Phytochemical studies of this plant showed the presence of various flavonoids with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. We hypothesized that Cynanchum thesioides manipulates the gut mycobiome and reverses visceral hypersensitivity in IBS rat model. Purpose of the study: The aims of this study were to prove the in vivo efficacy of Cynanchum thesioides on improving visceral hypersensitivity in IBS rat model and to examine its effect on gut bacterial communities, focusing on the potential interrelationships among microbiota and visceral hypersensitivity. Materials and methods: We induced visceral hypersensitivity rat models by maternal separation (MS) of Sprague-Dawley rats, and administered CT water extracts to MS rats for 10 consecutive days. The abdominal withdrawal reflex score and threshold of colorectal distention were employed to assess visceral sensitivity. We then used the Illumina HiSeq platform to analyze bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Results: Treatment with CT improved visceral hypersensitivity in MS rats, and this was accompanied by alterations in the structure and composition of the gut microbiota. The extent of the stability of the gut microbiota was improved after treatment with CT. The genera Pseudomonas, Lachnospiracea_incertae_sedis, and Clostridium XlVa (which were more prevalent in MS rats) were significantly decreased, whereas the abundance of some genera were less prevalent in MS rats—for example, Clostridium IV, Elusimicrobium, Clostridium_sensu_stricto, and Acetatifactor were significantly enriched after treatment with CT. Conclusion: Water-extracted CT was beneficial against visceral hypersensitivity in IBS and favorably affected the structure, composition, and functionality of gut microbiota. CT is therefore a promising agent in therapy of IBS. Graphical abstract: The Cynanchum thesioides (CT) is the primary component of a variety of classical formulae of traditional Mongolian medicine that has been employed in treating abdominal pain and diarrhea for hundreds of years. In this study, using a well-established visceral hyperalgesia rat model induced by maternal separation (MS), we first demonstrated that the water extractions of Cynanchum thesioides could improve the signs of visceral hypersensitivity in MS rats and that this was accompanied by alterations in the structure and composition of the gut microbiota. Image 1 Highlights: ● Cynanchum thesioides (CT) is an herb of traditional Mongolian medicine that has been employed in treating abdominal pain and diarrhea for hundreds of years. ● Our result shows the treatment with water-extracted CT improved visceral hypersensitivity in maternal separation (MS) group, and this was accompanied by alterations in the structure and composition of the gut microbiota. ● Treatment with CT could significantly improve gut microbiotal stability of IBS rats. ● The genera Pseudomonas, Lachnospiracea incertae sedis, and Clostridium XlVa (which were more prevalent in MS rats) were significantly decreased, whereas the abundance of some genera were less prevalent in MS rats—for example, Clostridium IV, Elusimicrobium, Clostridium_sensu_stricto, and Acetatifactor were significantly enriched after treatment with CT.